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RNA therapeutics is an emerging field that widens the range of treatable targets and would improve disease outcome through bypassing the antibiotic bactericidal targets to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb).We screened for microRNA with immune-regulatory functions against M.tb by next generation sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, followed by validation in an independent cohort.Twenty three differentially expressed microRNAs were identified between 12 active pulmonary TB patients and 4 healthy subjects, and 35 microRNAs before and after 6-month anti-TB therapy. Enriched predicted target pathways included proteoglycan, HIF-1 signaling, longevity-regulating, central carbon metabolism, and autophagy. We validated miR-431-3p down-regulation and miR-1303 up-regulation accompanied with corresponding changes in their predicted target genes in an independent validation cohort of 46 active TB patients, 30 latent TB infection subjects, and 24 non-infected healthy subjects. In vitro experiments of transfections with miR-431-3p mimic/miR-1303 short interfering RNA in THP-1 cells under ESAT-6 stimuli showed that miR-431-3p and miR-1303 were capable to augment and suppress autophagy/apoptosis/phagocytosis of macrophage via targeting MDR1/MMP16/RIPOR2 and ATG5, respectively.This study provides a proof of concept for microRNA-based host-directed immunotherapy for active TB disease. The combined miR-431-3p over-expression and miR-1303 knock-down revealed new vulnerabilities of treatment-refractory TB disease.

The aim of this study was to identify novel microRNAs related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) characterized by intermittent hypoxia with re-oxygenation (IHR) injury. Illumina MiSeq was used to identify OSA-associated microRNAs, which were validated in an independent cohort. The interaction between candidate microRNA and target genes was detected in the human THP-1, HUVEC, and SH-SY5Y cell lines. Next-generation sequencing analysis identified 22 differentially expressed miRs (12 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated) in OSA patients. Enriched predicted target pathways included senescence, adherens junction, and AGE-RAGE/TNF-α/HIF-1α signaling. In the validation cohort, miR-92b-3p and miR-15b-5p gene expressions were decreased in OSA patients, and negatively correlated with an apnea hypopnea index. PTGS1 (COX1) gene expression was increased in OSA patients, especially in those with depression. Transfection with miR-15b-5p/miR-92b-3p mimic in vitro reversed IHR-induced early apoptosis, reactive oxygen species production, MAOA hyperactivity, and up-regulations of their predicted target genes, including PTGS1, ADRB1, GABRB2, GARG1, LEP, TNFSF13B, VEGFA, and CXCL5. The luciferase assay revealed the suppressed PTGS1 expression by miR-92b-3p. Down-regulated miR-15b-5p/miR-92b-3p in OSA patients could contribute to IHR-induced oxidative stress and MAOA hyperactivity through the eicosanoid inflammatory pathway via directly targeting PTGS1-NF-κB-SP1 signaling. Over-expression of the miR-15b-5p/miR-92b-3p may be a new therapeutic strategy for OSA-related depression.

The paper aims to show the different suicide mortality rate between 1997-1998 and 2000-2001 in Nantou County of Taiwan with earthquake on September 21 (often referred to as the "9-21 earthquake") in 1999. In additional, it also identifies the preventive strategies for the high-risk suicide population. The age-standardized mortality rates for suicide in Nantou County were calculated for the years 1997-1998 and 2000-2001. The suicide standardized mortality ratio (SMR for townships in Nantou were calculated by "type of township" as the standard rate). There is a statistically significant difference in male suicide rates for the years prior to the earthquake (1997-1998) when pooled and compared to the suicide rates for the years after the earthquake (2000-2001). The rate for four age groups (under 25, 25-44, 45-64, 65 and above) all increased, yet all but one (the group of age 45-64) was not statistically significant. The male SMR has slightly increased after the 9-21 earthquake. Yet there are no statistical significances in most townships, except in Kaohsiung and Puli after the 9-21 earthquake. The Kaohsiung SMRs were 1.36 (95% CI: 0.54-2.80) before the earthquake (1997-1998) and 2.01 (95% CI: 1.04-3.52) after the earthquake (2000-2001). The SMRs before and after the earthquake in the Puli Township were 1.51 (95% CI: 0.95-2.29) to 1.56 (95% CI: 1.03-2.27). This study suggests that monitoring high-risk population, especially males or 45-64 years of age who experienced the highest statistically significant suicide rate in this study. The study provides support for providing both the psychological restoration program and, to the extent feasible, financial support for the unemployed as useful public health strategies for suicide prevention in Taiwan.

The objective of this study was to clarify the theoretical basis of sloshing loads and required plate thickness formulations in the harmonized common structural rules. This study used computational fluid dynamic (CFD) to calculate sloshing loads and used finite element analyses (FEA) to evaluate structural response. The sensitivity of the CFD predictions to the time step and grid size was also investigated. Cargo oil tanks were then selected in a handy size oil tanker and a very large crude carrier to evaluate the longitudinal and transverse sloshing loads on the tank boundaries. The results showed that the sloshing pressures computed at four filling levels were mostly consistent with CSR-H. Afterward, the sloshing pressure produced by CFD was applied to the finite element model by using a fluid-structure interaction technique to obtain the dynamic response of the structure. The dynamic responses were investigated to validate the quasistatic approach for sloshing assessment.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Harmonised Common Structural Rules (CSR-H) have been released and will take effect on July 1, 2015. The local loads under extreme motion conditions, defined in the CSR-H, were investigated for an oil tanker by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, STAR-CCM+, and included bow flare slamming pressure and bottom slamming pressure at the bottom of the bow or stern bottom. The extreme motion defined in the CSR-H was investigated using the potential code HydroSTAR. To benchmark the numerical results, resistance and seakeeping model tests were performed on the oil tanker. The two test results were simulated using the two software packages, respectively, and the numerical results were in good agreement with the test results. Finally, this study demonstrated that the slamming pressures defined by the CSR-H are safe and conservative with regard to the structural design.Copyright © 2014 by ASME

In recent years, the microstructure of Co-based allo y magnetic thin film disks has been studied extensivel y by using a conventional X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique [1-4]. Efforts to understand the relationship between the microstructure and the magnetic properties of disk had been limited due to the lack of depth resolution in the conventional theta-2theta scanning technique. In this paper, a fixed 0.5 degree of grazing incidence [5] 2-theta scan X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) technique was used to characterize the thin film disk microstructure and therefore to correlate with the magnetic properties. Experimental Setup An 18 kW Rigaku rotating anode (Cu K α) X-ray generator, Geigerflex D/Max-B goniometer with a 43-sample holder attachment and Graphite (002) flat crystal as monochromator were used to collect the diffraction patterns of the film disks. A half degree divergence incident slit and 0.3 mm receiving slit were used in this setup. The static magnetic properties of the film disks along the circumferential textured direction were measured by Vibration Sample Magnetometer with the 10 K saturation inplane field. Results and Discussion

The effect of thin Cr interlayer on the time decay of magnetization and magnetization reversal for CoCrTaPt/Cr/CoCrTaPt media is presented. The time decay of magnetization was measured at various reverse magnetic fields. The maximum magnetic viscosity coefficient which occurs around the remanent coercivity increases with increasing interlayer thickness, which implies the degradation of thermal stability. The activation volume decreases with increasing Cr interlayer thickness. Both torque magnetometer and the law of approach to saturation methods were used to measure the magnetic anisotropy. The results show a decrease in anisotropy with increasing interlayer thickness which may explain the degradation of thermal stability. The distribution of rotational hysteresis losses (W/sub r/) were measured and the rotational hysteresis integral (R/sub h/) was found to decrease with increasing Cr interlayer thickness which may be caused by reduction of the magnetic interaction.

Microstructures of magnetic CoPtCr/Cr/NiP/Al thin‐film disks were studied by conventional and grazing‐incidence x‐ray diffraction (GI XRD) and correlated with the mechanism of the orientation ratio (OR). The OR is defined as the ratio of circumferential and radial coercivity on a circumferentially textured disk. Due to the severe overlap of the Co(002), Cr(110), and Al(200) peaks superimposed on the amorphous NiP, the conventional XRD patterns showed only limited information. However, the grazing‐incidence method is able to remove the interfering effect of the amorphous NiP and AlMg substrate. As a result, the GI XRD intensity of Co(100) is observed to be stronger in the circumferential direction as compared to the radial direction when the OR is greater than 1. Also, the intensity ratio of Co(100):Co(101) is constantly higher in the circumferential direction than the radial direction. An isotropic distribution of Co(100) and Co(101) is observed in all directions when the OR is close to 1. However, in this study, the strain effect on the OR from the chromium underlayer is not observed [A. Kawamoto and F. Hikami, J. Appl. Phys. 69, 5151 (1991); R. Nishikawa, T. Hikosaka, K. Igarashi, and M. Kanamaru, IEEE Trans. Magn. 25, 3890 (1989)].

A vertical scanning single crystal diffractometer with graphite monochromator and narrow divergent beam controlled by an IBM Series/1 computer was used to study crystal damage in the ion-implanted garnet films including strain effects induced by multi-implantation processes as a function of the types of ions, their energies and doses, growth and annealing temperatures.

A simplified version of the x-ray dispersion surface is described for use in the interpretation of simultaneous 3-beam Borrmann diffraction photographs. Examples of such photographs are discussed and analyzed in terms of the simplified dispersion surfaces.

Using r.f. sputtering, LiNbO 3 films were deposited onto amorphous and single-crystal substrates. Depending on the growth conditions, the films are either amorphous of polycrystalline, as shown by X-ray diffraction. Results are presented on the influence of the various parameters on the index of refraction of the films which is determined as a function of wavelength by using integrated optical methods with an argon ion laser, a dye laser and an HeNe laser. A single-term Sellmeier equation can be used to fit these refractive index data. The average oscillator positron λ 0 is found to be 0.1834 μm and 0.2045 μm and the average oscillator strength 92.40 μm −2 and 81.8 μm −2 for the amorphous and polycrystalline LiNbO 3 films respectively.